Few vacancies are also likely to be filled, while some junior Ministers from poll bound Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand are also likely to be appointed as Ministers.

New Delhi, June 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Council of Ministers at 4 pm on Thursday. Speculation is already rife that the PM is likely to consider a rehuffle of his Cabinet, with some important changes in posts, from which some Ministers stand to gain majorly, while some others will loose. The changes are likely to be made before the commencement of the Monsoon Session, reports suggested on Thursday.

It is being speculated that Minister of State Piyush Goyal stands to gain big, as he is likely to be inducted into the Council as a Cabinet Minister, said a report by Zee News. Another Minister who is likely to get a Cabinet rank is Dharmendra Pradhan. Few vacancies are also likely to be filled, while some junior Ministers from poll bound Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand are also likely to be appointed as Ministers. The post of the Union Sports Minister has been vacant ever since Sarabananda Sonowal was made the Chief Minister of Assam after BJP’s victory in the 2016 Assembly elections. ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi to Council of Ministers: ‘Make people more aware of government initiatives’

Meanwhile, Minister of State Raosaheb Danve Patil had resigned from the Cabinet post, after he was made the chief of BJP’s Maharashtra unit. The report also suggests that the performance of Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda, has been said to be below the expected level and hence, he is likely to be removed from his post in the Cabinet. The changes are likely to be announced before July 6, when the PM leaves for his visit to the African continent.